1862 July 19 Tupelo, Miss.

                          Hd Qrs Department No. 2
                              Tupelo Miss July 19 "62

My Dear Dick
                                   In the name of heaven
& of the love you (should) bear me-write me:
this suspense is too horrible--You with the
rest of my relatives are engaged in
battle after battle--the result of which to
you we know not what I haave wirtten
you but without effect--have you forgotten
me? or do you supose I have no affection
at all for you?  Now Dick I implore
you to write me a detailed account of
the casualties--I to day received an im
=perfect newspaper list of the casualties--but
a great many are put down as missing
whom I suppose have rejoined the Co---I
was glad that none were killed--
        Alvin was in Richmond a month

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ago, he would have visited you, but he
was there on business, & did not know what
moment he would be ordered back--He heard
it reported that Willie Richardson has died
from the effects of his wound--notwithstanding
the strong circumstantial evidence--I cannot
help believing it to be false--poor fellow his
affliction was heavy even, with the loss of his
arm--for him & you.  I have felt more solici
-tude than all the rest of my numerous relatives
engaged in this struggle for our nonor & liberty--
however I am getting too much on the 4" July
order to please you--

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I suppose you have heard that
George Williams has been promoted to Captain
& Adjt. Genl--to Act Brig Gen Liddle--he is now on
sick leave--he will probably resume his
duties tomorrow--Benton Roy has been
promoted to Major & Chief of  Genl Harde's
Staff --if he were only a woman, the General
would certainly marry him--
Hope, Alvin & myself are the only

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clerks left of our Manassas crowd--we do
nothing particularly but fight flies, fleas
& musquitos, all of which are very numerous
& ravenous--The weather there is exceeding
hot & very enervating, tho' our troops are
in fine health--
      Cousing Alic & Marsh Blakemore are
now permanently station[sic] at Selma Ala,
Cous Willie has gone up there on a sick
leave--I miss him very much--Gen Johnson's
quarters are very near ours & I am with
him every day--I suppose you are aware
that he is Gen J's aid?--
                    Frank Buck & Marsh Blake
=more are both in Genl Price's Army, & I see
them frequently, the latter is much im
=proved in every respect--
Do you ever hear from home
or is the "blockade" so effectual as to pre
=vent all intercourse?
I shall send this to Richmond by
Capt Jordan, who will find your locality &

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send it to you.

[letter of Irving  will finish on July 22]

[Thomas] Benton Roy, 1838-1910, remained on Hardee's staff throughout the war.

MSS 3064